It’s hard to imagine that a doctor, a person who took an oath to take care of all people with equal compassion and to the best of their ability, would admit they don’t want patients who are disabled.
Yet, a recent study shows just that. If you’re filing for long-term disability benefits, how do you overcome the unspoken prejudice you might encounter?
What Doctors Had to Say About Patients With Disabilities
A new study published in Health Affairs reveals some shocking information about physician attitudes toward disabled patients.
The physicians who participated in the study were a mix of primary care doctors and specialists from across the United States. They were placed in three focus groups and the study was conducted via Zoom. All the physicians were guaranteed anonymity to protect their identities.
At first, the doctors were reluctant to talk. But once they did, some of the things they said were painful for the doctor who conducted the study to hear (she herself is disabled and in a wheelchair).
Many of the doctors in the study blamed their shrinking time with patients as a reason they didn’t want to take care of patients with disabilities. They felt like the 15-minute time frame they are given to spend with a patient simply isn’t enough time for a person with multiple problems.
Some doctors said their office scales could not accommodate wheelchairs, so they had told patients to go to a supermarket, a grain elevator, a cattle processing plant, or a zoo to be weighed, or they would tell a new patient the practice was closed to avoid the hassle.
Another doctor said he didn’t think he could legally refuse to see a patient who has a disability — so he had his office staff come up with excuses, such as “The doctor isn’t taking new patients.” Or “It’s better for you to be taken care of in a special facility with better wheelchair access.”
One specialist in the group said disabled patients took “too much time” and were a “disruption to the flow of the clinic.”
Most physicians in the study said they had little knowledge about the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act), but told researchers they feared being sued.
With these kinds of attitudes, is it any wonder that finding a doctor to fill out your disability form can feel like an impossible task?
How To Get Your Doctor To Fill Out Your Disability Form
If your doctor doesn’t want to fill out your disability form, what can you do? Plenty!
Tucker Disability Law has put together a FREE exclusive guide that will explain why your doctor might not want to fill out your disability form and what you can do about it.
This free guide is chock full of information and insider tips that will help turn your Dr. “No” into a Dr. “Yes”.
For more information and to download your guide, go HERE.
Tucker Disability Law has over 30+ years fighting the insurance companies. We have a 98% win rate because we know the dirty tricks insurance companies use, and how to beat them!
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At Tucker Disability Law we don’t settle for less. Neither should you
